rhizoverbBeta
DictionarystatuteWritten law
noun

statute

STACH-oot/ˈstætʃuːt/

A written law formally enacted by a legislature.

The clerk authenticates the statute after the legislative vote.

A written legislative enactment: a clerk authenticates the resulting document in the foreground while the presiding officer closes a visibly unanimous vote in a compact legislative chamber.
Etymology
statuteLatinenact, establish

Latin statuere meant to enact or establish; its participle became a noun for a law or decree. A statute is thus something formally established as law, specifically by a legislative body.

In context

Biography7:57
The RICO statute was signed into law in 1970.
The Fall of the American Mafia (S1, E3) | American Godfathers: The Five Families | Full Episode

More examples

  • Several statutes governed the matter.
  • She studied the statute.
  • The statute took effect.

Forms

statute · statutes

statutory adjective — established by written law

Similar words

law
The broader category of enforceable rules.
ordinance
Typically a local law.